Galvanizing apparatus



Au 13, 1935. A. BRADLEY 2,010,939

GALVANIZING APPARATUS Filed June 30, 1931 Patented'Aug. l3, 193s.v

PATENT OFFICE 'cuvsmzmc APPARATUS Albert Bradley, Sterling, Ill., assignor to Northwestern Barb Wire Company, Sterling, 111., a

corporation of Illinois Application June 30, 1931, Serial No. 547,940

8 Claims.

This invention has to do with the art of galvanizing and concerns more particularly a means by which excess spelter or zinc adhering to joints in wire fabric may be removed from the latter subsequent to galvanization.

It is a well known fact that wire fabric which is galvanized after formation of the fabric is muchmore resistant to corrosion, not only at unbent portions but also at bent portions such as joints of the wire of which the fabric is made, than is true of fabric the individual wires of which are galvanized prior to formation of the fabric. I have found however, that while for the reason mentioned it is advantageous to galvanize the fabric after the latter is formed, yet such practice has in the past had the drawback that, due' to the collection of the zinc at the joints because of the numerous pockets formed at the joints, 0. large amount of surplus and useless zinc is carried by the finished product.

The manufacture of hinge joint fence or fabric has been confined to the process by which the wires are pre-galvanized, for the reason that were the fabric made of ungalvanized wire and subsequently passed through a kettle of zinc, the latter adhering to the joints would freeze the joints so that no hinging between the stay wires would be possible.

I have devised accordingly 9, means by which the fabricated fence may be subjected to a coating process such as galvanization and subsequently so treated that the excess spelter or zinc is removed. This is true of hinge joint fence as well as other fence. In addition, by the apparatus and method to be herein described, the full efliciency of each hinge joint of the fence is retained after solidification of all the zinc has occurred.

The principal objects of the present invention accordingly concern themselves with the production of an apparatus and a method by which the above ends are attained.

In accordance with the general features of the invention, I provide yieldable means which are released by cam mechanism to intermittently strike or tap the wire fabric after it emerges from the zinc. This mechanism includes means for causing hinge movement of the stay wires of each hinge joint, in the event hinge joint fence is galvanizedin accordance with the present invention, at the same time that the tapping or striking occurs, so that the zinc is worked into adhesion with all exposed surfaces without freezing the hinge joints.

Other and further important objects of this (CL ill-59.1)

invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and the accompanying drawing.

This invention (in a preferred form) is illustrated in the drawing and hereinafter more fully 45 described.

On the drawing:

Figure 1 is an elevational view, partly in section, of one form of the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary elevational view looking at Figure 1 from left to right, certain parts being omitted.

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view, broken away, taken approximately in the plane indicated by the line 111-111 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary elevational view of a hinge joint of -a hinge joint fence.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, wherein the same parts are indicated throughout by the same reference characters, the frame i includes standards 2 and a cross bar 3 connecting the standards, the latter being disposed at opposite sides of a galvanizing apparatus,

a portion of which is designated at 4 as the zinc containing kettle. The kettle 4 has of course an entrance opening (not shown) through which the wire fabric enters the kettle, and an exit opening 5 through which the fabric 6 emerges.

For the purpose of wiping the fabric 6 as the latter emerges from the kettle 4, a box-like structure I is placed over the opening 5 and contains a mass of grained charcoal or the like 8 through which the zinc-coated fabric '6 passes. This wiping serves to remove a major portion of the excess zinc adhering to the fabric 6.

However, considerable zinc attaches itself to the spaces 9 between the cooperating coils of the individual stay wires in, and between the coils and the line wire I I, and the charcoal is incapable of removing this excess zinc. Accordingly, jointed 40 wire fence such as wire netting and the like having no hinge joints and galvanized after the fabric is produced, carries considerable excess zinc, and hinge joint wire fence, in addition to carrying the excess zinc, is practically useless as hinge joint 46 fence for the reason that the excess zinc collecting at the joints causesthe latter to be frozen and thereby prevents relative hinge or pivotal movement of the stay wires.

To the end that excess zinc at the joints may 50 be removed 'for all kinds of wire fence, as well as to preserve the hinge action of the several stay wires of hinge joint fence, I have devised a construction which is extremely simple and yet effective, and by the use of which no slowing up of the process of galvanizing and winding the galvanized fabric on the finishing reel is occasioned.

To these ends, this mechanism comprises cantilever mounted spring leaves i2 of the character employed in what is known as the German type 'of spring used in connection with forming heads on wire nails, said leaves being preferably, though not necessarily, made of wood and being secured by suitable means i3 at their upper ends to opposite end portions of the cross bar 3 of the frame I. Brackets H are connected to the lower ends of the leaves l2 and are provided with securing means passing through slots ii in the leaves l2, whereby said brackets may be adjusted longitudinally of the leaves.

-The brackets it have offset arms l6, and a zigzagging or wavy striking member i'l, made of strap or other material, has offset arms i8 detachably connected to the arms E6. The member i1 is thus securely fastened to the spring leaves l2 and will move at all times in unison with the bottoms of said leaves.

A stationary member i 9 is provided with a zigzag portion 20 complemental with the member l1 and facing the latter, and the members ll and i9 straddle the fence 6 emerging from the kettle l as shown in Figures 1 and 3. It will be noted that suflicient clearance is provided between the fence 6 and the members I! and i9 so that the fence 6 will not be retarded in its upward movement out of the kettle 4. The member I9 is however positioned fairly close to fence 6. It will be noted that the projections 21 of the member I! are disposed opposite alternating line wires ii and that the projecting portions 22 of the member iii are positioned opposite the intervening alternating line wires Ii, so that when the member I! occupies the position shown at Ila in dotted lines in Figure 3, the stay wires I are caused to pivot about their joints and the line wires II as indicated in dotted lines at 10a in Figure 3.

The mechanism by which the member I! is caused to shift to the position shown at Na in Figure 3 will now be described. Brackets 23 are secured to the sides of the leaves I 2 opposite those on which the brackets M are secured, and preferably sumciently distant from the secured ends of the leaves i2 so that the portions of the leaves where these brackets are secured are capable of deflecting with respect to the upper ends of the leaves. The brackets 23 receive the ends 24 of a shaft 25, rotation of the latter being prevented by the set screws or like means 26. Secured to the shaft 25 are collars 21 between which cam followers 23 are loosely mounted. The followers may be provided with suitable bearings so that they may roll about the shaft 25 with a minimum of friction.

A transverse bar 28 extends horizontally between the uprights or standards 2 and is connected to the latter, and carries brackets 33 having bearing bosses 3! in which the ends 32 of a. camshaft 33 are rotatably journalled. A suitable source of power, indicated diagrammatically at 34, rotates the camshaft 33. The camshaft 33 is provided with cams 35 which are keyed or otherwise secured for rotation with the shaft 33, suitable abutment collars 36 serving to hold the cams 35 in cooperative alignment with the rollers or cam followers 28 on the shaft 25.

In operation, the camshaft 33 is rotated by its source of power 34 in the direction indicated by the arrow at 31, and as seen in dotted lines in Figure 1, the earns 35, as they engage the followers 28,.force the latter to the right, thereby flexing the leaves i2 away from the fence-6, until the cams 35 occupy the positions indicated at 3%. As the cams 35 continue to rotate in the direction of the arrow 31, they move past the followers shown at 23:: in Figure 1 and due to the elasticity of the leaves l2, the latter will immediately snap back to their original positions and in so doing, due to their momentum, they will move somewhat beyond their normal positions and will cause the projecting portions 2i of the member IT to engage the various line wires ii and thus cause pivotal movementof the several stay wires about the hinge joints, the approximate condition of the fence when the member i1 reaches its limit of movement being indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3. It will be understood that the dotted line showing of the distorted positions of the various line and stay wires is diagrammatic, inasmuch as the portions Illa would seem to be longer than the portions 93, although as a matter of fact the portions of the stay wires H) which are coiled about the line wires ii will stretch somewhat. The thickness of the leaves i2 will return the same to their normal positions, shown in full lines in Figure l. I

The stationary member I9 may be secured on suitable standards 38 or, if desired, it may be secured to the standards 2. It will be appreciated that while two cams and followers are herein disclosed, they could be replaced by a single cam and follower disposed substantially centrally of the respective shafts 25 and 33. Suitable driving instrumentalities indicated generally at 39 may be employed to rotate the drawing roll 40 in the direction indicated by the arrow 4! for continuously drawing the galvanized fence 6 out of the kettle 4. Suitable rolls cooperating with the roll 39 may be used and by this means the galvanized fence may be conducted to the forward part of the machine or apparatus where the fence is wound on a finishing reel.

The camshaft 33 may rotate at any desired speed, in order that the taps or impacts of the kicking member I! against the fence 6 will be repeated rapidly as for example fifty times per minute. This frequency may of course be varied within a fairly wide range, and may also be varied depending on the rate of movement of the fence 3. It will be appreciated from the foregoing that the repeated impacts by which the distortion of the fence 6 is brought about as indicated in dotted lines at "la in Figure 3 will result not only in a removal of excess zinc at the spaces 3 designated in Figure 4 but will additionally cause relative movement of the several stay wires ill to prevent freezing of the hinge joints. If, for a given adjustment of the brackets it with respect to the leaves I2, it is found that too much zinc is thrown off by the impacts, said brackets i i may be adjusted with respect to the slots l in the leaves H. in a direction away from the kettle l, in which event the member l9 may also be adjusted to a position directly opposite the member i'i. Also, the brackets It may be adjusted to a lower position if it is found that not enough excess zinc is being thrown off, the member is being of course correspondingly adjusted along the standards 33.

It will be understood that while the invention has been described as adapted for use in connection with the coating of wire fabric with zinc, any other metal may be employed for this purpose, such as tin and the like. Moreover, the agitating or tapping or impact mechanism may if desired be used in connection with any process by which coating or plating material is applied in a liquid state and subsequently dried.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction may be varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I therefore do not purpose limiting the patent granted hereon otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a galvanizing apparatus for galvanizing hinge joint fence after fabrication of the latter without destroying the hinge effect of the joints, means for striking the fabric as it emerges from the galvanizing kettle and at the same time causing pivotal movement of cooperating stay wires, comprising stationary and movable, members straddling the fabric, said members having oppositely disposed parallel zigzag surfaces, with the crests of said surfaces disposed adjacent alternating line wires of the fabric, whereby upon movement of the movable member into substantially nested relation to the stationary member, the fabric will have imparted to it a substantially zigzag shape, the force of impact of the movable member on the fabric serving to remove excess zinc collecting at the joints.

2. In an agitating apparatus of the class described, a frame, resilient cantilever means extending from said frame, striking means actuated by said cantilever means and arranged to be normally spaced from the object to be agitated, and means for repeatedly flexing said cantilever means, whereby, as the flexing pressure is removed, the momentum of said cantilever means in tending to resume the normal position thereof will swing the same beyond said position to a point at which the striking means strike the object and then the striking means will return with the cantilever means to their normal positions.

3. Apparatus for producing galvanized wire hinge joint fence after the fence has been fabricated, comprising a galvanizing kettle, drawing means for drawing the fabric from said kettle, means for striking alternate line wires of the fabric to remove excess zinc and at the same time cause pivotal movement of the stay wires about the line wires, said means including a spring, a kicking member carried by the spring, and means for pressing said spring away from the fabric whereby when said pressure is released the resiliency of the spring will throw the kicking member forcefully against said line wires.

4. In a frame including standards and a cross bar connecting the upper ends of the standards, leaf springs depending from the cross bar, a

striking element secured adjacent the free ends of said springs, and means for adjusting said element toward and away from said cross bar.

5. In a frame including standards and a cross bar connecting the upper ends of the standards,

leaf springs depending from the cross bar, a striking element secured adjacent the free ends of said springs, a shaft secured to said springs,

direction to thereby cause said element to strike an object normally spaced from said element.

6. In combination with a galvanizing apparatus for galvanizing hinge joint fence after fabrication of the latter without destroying the hinge effect of the joints, means for striking the fabric as it emerges from the galvanizing kettle and at the same time causing pivotal movement of cooperating stay wires, said means comprising relatively movable members between which the fabric is adapted to move, said members having oppositely disposed zig-zag surfaces with the crests of said surfaces disposed adjacent alternating line wires of the fabric, whereby, upon relative movement of said members into substantially nested relation to each other, the fabric will have imparted to it a substantially zig-zag shape, the force of impact thereupon serving to remove excess zinc collecting at the joints.

7. In a frame including standards and a cross bar connecting the standards, spring means on said cross bar, a striking element secured on said spring means, and means for actuating said spring means and means for adjusting said striking element toward and away from said cross bar.

8. Apparatus for producing galvanized wire hinge joint fence fabric after the fabric has been fabricated, comprising a galvanizing kettle, drawing means for drawing the fabric from said kettle, means for striking the fabric adjacent alternate line wires thereof to remove excess zinc and at the same time cause pivotal movement of the stay wires relative to the line wires of the fabric, said means including parts engageable with transversely spaced portions on opposite sides of the fabric, the parts on each side alternating with the parts on the other side, said means including spring means controlling the parts on one side of the fabric, and means for so energizing and releasing said spring means that when said spring means is released it will throw the parts controlled thereby forcefully against the fabric.

ALBERT BRADLEY. 

